'OFTEN IT'S DOGS WHO END UP SAVING US

James Middleton tells us why pets are such a special part of his famous family and remembers his beloved life-saver, Ella

- ROSALIND POWELL

You couldn't find a happier looking man than James Middleton as he shows the HELLO! team around the grounds of his farmhouse in the Berkshire countryside.

With his six dogs bouncing at his heels, the younger brother of the Princess of Wales is in his natural environment as he piles the pack into the back of a red tractor, throws in a few bales of hay, and heads off to a grassy meadow bathed in sunshine as we follow behind.

“It is a very special place and we see ourselves as very lucky,” he says when we arrive, proudly surveying the 30 acres of rolling hills and woodland, alive with birdsong, of his beautiful home where he lives with his wife, Alizée, and their 18-month-old son Inigo.

“And we're lucky enough to have seven pubs within a mile radius,” he adds, grinning.

Born in Reading, James, who turns 38 this month, has lived in the area for most of his life, as have his family.

His parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, live “five minutes up the road” in the village of Bucklebury: “Which is lovely, because we see lots of them.” His two older sisters, Kate and Pippa, whom he describes as “mothering figures”, also live nearby.

FAMILY TIES

“We're a close family, and we're fortunate in that we see lots of each other. My parents play a good role in getting us all together in that respect.

“We've been brought up knowing that you can't take family for granted,” he adds. “You don’t get to choose them, as you can choose your friends. But I don’t think you can give up on your family like you can sometimes with friends.”

This was put to the test when, in 2017, James, softly spoken and mildly mannered, suffered from clinical depression, which left him feeling suicidal. Along with the support of his family, he credits his dog Ella for saving his life.